Mar 18, 2025
Brilliant Kolkata experience - As a solo female traveler in India for the first time, I joined two tours with Kaushik across Kolkata and wow -- what a phenomenal experience! By far one of the absolute highlights of my time in India! Kaushik is brilliantly knowledgeable, a fantastic storyteller, immensely kind and patient, flexible in how the visit is organised, always making sure that I felt safe, had enough to eat and drink and that my questions were answered. We wandered the streets for almost 9 hours (although the tour can be shorter if you wish) and the time flew by. It felt like we could have kept on going for hours more -- and certainly Kaushik still had energy to show more. It felt like he knew the history and had stories for every single building, street and square we passed. Some of the highlights of the day for me included drinking chai, sitting in Lal Dighi/Tank Square while Kaushik told us the history of Kolkata, taking an autorickshaw through the dazzling Kolkata traffic, going to the busy flower market on the bank of the Hooghly River, seeing the Kumartuli neighborhood (where they make sculptures for religious celebrations across India) with artists sculpting before our very eyes. But even with all these extraordinary sights, the true highlight of the tour was getting to experience the intensity of the daily rush and flow of busy Kolkata streets. Kaushik took me to extremely busy and lively places that I would never have dared venture into on my own, and made me feel safe and taken care of throughout. This felt like I was experiencing true Kolkata, far from tourist hotels and deep in daily Kolkata life. Kaushik, I can't thank you enough for this experience. I will recommend your tours to anyone going to India and hope to be able to join another in the future. All the best!!
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Dec 20, 2024
Perfect Private Tour of Kolkata - We had an amazing private walking tour of Kolkata with our 7-year-old! The tour was perfectly customized to suit our interests, starting with the vibrant flower market—a must-see for its colors and energy. Our guide KC was incredibly accommodating and added stops that we requested, like visiting a local supermarket and arranging for mehendi (henna) to be done, which was such a special experience. It was a perfect mix of culture, local flavor, and fun for our family. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore Kolkata in a personalized and engaging way! Thank you KC!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 17, 2024
best choice for visiting Kolkata - Best choice we could have ever done. We visited Kolkata for a wedding and we only had 1 full day for visiting. KC customised a beautiful tour for us at very last min, taking us around and telling us lot of curiosities. it was an off the beaten track tour, as we wanted and he went beyond our expectations. Kolkata is not an easy city to visit. there is a lot do do and see and going around can be challenging if you're not from there. Having a guide like this, it made everything so smooth and so beautifully pleasant. highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 11, 2024
Minute Details, Monumental Memories: My Last-Minute Kolkata Escape - If you’re looking for a guide in Kolkata who offers more than just sightseeing, look no further than Kaushik Chatterjee. This guide isn’t in the business of tourism for livelihood—he’s well-read, well-settled, and does this purely to engage his intellect and share his passion for Bengal’s rich heritage. What makes the experience exceptional is the intellectual depth he brings to every interaction.
Our custom-designed trip was an unforgettable journey through Kolkata’s layers of history and culture. We explored the city in the iconic Ambassador taxi, rode the metro, commuted on a ferry, and walked nearly 20,000 steps in a single day. Every moment felt like stepping into a live history book.
Kolkata, as he presented it, is a city where history breathes through every corner. He unraveled the British Raj era in ways I’d never imagined—explaining not just the buildings but the context behind them. He showed me the hotel where Mahatma Gandhi stayed, first Rosgolla was made and the spot where Subhas Chandra Bose enjoyed his favorite sharbat. He took me to mausoleums and memorials, each with its own intricate tale. We even discussed the history of the “good British” and the “bad British,” and the city’s deep-rooted connections with Jewish, Scottish, Danish, and Armenians.
I asked him about the people of Kolkata—the diversity of the crowd, the caste dynamics, the unparalleled importance of Durga Puja, and the city’s art and culture. He shared vivid, accurate accounts that I later verified and found surprisingly on point. From the legacy of Bengal’s eminent personalities to the story of Job Charnock (the founder of Kolkata) and the evolution of Bengal from the 1600s to today, he seamlessly brought centuries of history to life.
One of the most remarkable moments was when he spoke about Sutanuti, one of the three villages that formed the foundation of Kolkata. It's rare to meet someone who can weave personal and historical narratives so effortlessly.
Through every part of this journey, he encouraged me to ask questions. No query was too small or too challenging, and his answers were always thoughtful and enlightening. I came away with a deeper understanding of Kolkata’s art, culture, and history, and a newfound appreciation for its vibrant present.
This wasn’t just a tour; it was an intellectual adventure. If you’re seeking a guide who will enrich your mind as much as your experience, this is the one to choose.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 8, 2024
Best way to get to know Kolkata - Fantastic tour of Kolkata - heritage and cultural tour was a great way to get to know the city. We did a 3 hour private tour, by car and foot. KC is so knowledgeable and easy to understand. He made the buildings come to life with history, gave us a local tea experience, and walked us through the flower market (a highlight!) He arrived promptly and gave us options for the type of tour we wanted. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 10, 2024
A true journey through Kolkata - Can’t begin to express how wonderful our day in Kolkata was thanks to Kolkata Story Tours and our guide Kaushik. We learned so much, including many lesser known details that would be missed by many guides, in addition to experiencing an insiders look of the city. Kaushik truly took us on a journey through Kolkata’s history through storytelling and was focused on our comfort and interest at all times.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 28, 2024
Excellent - Kaushik was a most caring and informative host and guide. He showed us areas of Kolkata that we would have not seen on our own which we particularly valued including small quirky features of the city and its past. His knowledge and perspective were fascinating and generously shared.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 1, 2023
A Walking Tour of Value - This was a fabulous private walking tour exploring the real Kolkata. The tour was an explosion on the senses; smells, sights, sounds and a real experience that is worth doing. The walk was hot and humid. We explored the back alleys, the many temples and religious places of worship all near each other. This was supported by Kaushiks excellent narration, he knows hus history. It was well worth doing. The flower market was very interesting, learning about the journey of the flowers to the market, observing how each seller chooses their niche in the floral market, and the beauty that shines through in the busy, bustling market area. We finished the walking tour in a bus, an experience! If you have watched the roads, being right in the flow of it in a bus, bouncing around, was a fun way to conclude tour. I felt safe, supported, entertained and educated. Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 5, 2023
Tour of a Lifetime! - I cannot begin to say enough flattering things about K.C. and his Kolkata Story Tours. I am American and was visiting Kolkata for the first time and he was the true cherry on our vacay sundae.
1. His car was clean, comfy and had great AC which was amazing because it was the beginning of summer season and crazy hot.
2. He had a relaxed vibe and was all about catering to where we wanted to visit but was able to throw in extra stops to maximize our experience. K.C. is incredibly personable. We never felt awkward or uncomfortable.
3. His knowledge of the area was impressive and he shared in depth information about the history of not just Kolkata but India as a whole.
4. He was kind and a true joy to spend a day with. K.C. was genuinely interested in our Kolkata tour. He even drove us by his office to check out the mongoose family that lives in the grove behind the building.
I highly recommend booking tour with Kolkata Story Tours. 11/10 You won’t regret it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 11, 2020
Amazing experience! - KC (Kaushik Chatterjee) was an exceptional guide as he shared Kolkata with our family. Our day started at the flower market followed by chai tea along the Ganges river, a tour through areas of theater, music, arts, and academics all while learning about the fascinating history and culture of the Kolkata and India. KC was always attentive to the needs of our group and coordinated with our schedule. Having a personal guide who shared not just knowledge but a love and passion for his home left us with our own special bond to Kolkata.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
